Fate/Samurai Remnant Review (PS5) | Push Square

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There's an awful lot to like about Fate/Samurai Remnant — an action RPG set in 1600s Japan. With the country on the brink of unprecedented societal change, protagonist Miyamoto Iori finds himself at a loss. A diligent student of soon-to-be-outdated swordplay, Iori gets by on local busy work, but can't shake the feeling that his life is stuck in a rut.

However, just as he's contemplating what the future holds, he's torn from his everyday conundrums by the Waxing Moon Ritual — an otherworldly event in which a chosen few fight to the death over an all-powerful wish. It's a rather jarring escalation, but you do end up feeling for Iori in the sense that his life might finally mean something — and you really are rooting for the down-on-his-luck lead from that point on.

The game's character-driven storytelling is largely fantastic. Iori and his fellow 'Masters' are granted command of incredibly strong 'Servants' — warriors from throughout history, who have been reborn in order to compete in the aforementioned ritual. If you're completely new to Fate as a franchise, Samurai Remnant's often abstract concepts and lore may seem overbearing, but the game actually does an impressive job of keeping you up to speed. It's also a standalone tale, so you don't have to worry about any prior knowledge.

What makes the plot so compelling is the fact that Iori is such an underdog. He may bear the title of a Master, but it's his Servant, Saber, who has to hold his hand — initially with disdain — as he learns the ropes. The protagonist struggles to come to terms with his newfound responsibility, and it doesn't help that his opponents in the Ritual all seem to be so accomplished. He's up against famous samurai, foreign warlords, and influential